MtnDweller

Just be aware that most cruise lines charge by the minute to be connected to the ship's WiFi network so it isn't really feasible to use it as a means of having someone at home contact you in real time.

 

But apps like Facebook Messenger or plain old email will queue any messages for when you get around to connecting to the network once or twice a day.

Carnival charges $5 a day for social media wifi. Which, by the way, is Facebook Messenger. lol

Ships wifi means buying a package, slow and expensive. Best thing to do is wait until you go ashore and then follow the crew to the nearest free wifi cafe, sometimes will be facility in the terminal when you more up.

Carnival is $5 a day for social media wifi. Expensive.......not. I'd much rather pay that than use the free wifi.

If you have a smartphone, there are apps that you can use to call family members back home for free and vice versa. You can turn off your data and use the ship's wifi.

This is our plan for our first cruise coming up. :)

Here's a PDF file from Carnival's web site.

Just got through reading Frommer' Walking Tour of Nassau.

Came out about like mine did. :D

 

HOW IN THE NAME OF GOD DO YOU MAKE IT FROM BOOKING TO EMBARKATION? The wait is absolutely killing me. I can feel the breeze on my face, the salty air in my lungs, the sun on my back.

HA!!!!! Our first cruise is in February and I am chomping at the bit too!!! :D

Directly across from Guest Services in Atrium. Empress Deck 7, if I remember correctly from my shipboard days. (Fantasy was my first ship! :D)

Thank you!

Fantasy will be our first ship. Our cabin is on the Empress Deck. Can't wait!!! :D

Where is it on the ship?

Got notice - they have been mailed!!!!!!!

Alright!

the table next to us had a baby that would just let out a loud scream several times during dinner.

A loud scream, several times during dinner is much better than a baby screaming the whole time.

Nothing was said by any of the the staff to the parents

Quieting children is a parental responsibility not a cruise staff responsibility.

Why is it that we saw people being put out on formal nite for wearing shorts. And no one cared about babys screaming.

Apples to apples. A screaming baby is not the same as wearing shorts to formal night.

Thanks, good to know.. .Mine still say currently being processed... normal processing time is 4-6 weeks... good stuff... thanks

 

(yes, and I do have a call in to them.) :-)

Hope you receive it soon.

Is it appropriate for my Marine son to wear his dress blues on Elegant night? Would love to get a family picture with him in his "blues".

Yes, he can. However, he cannot wear his medals. Only the ribbons. Medals are only for "special" formal occasions, but then he should already know this.

Please thank your son for his service.

Our son is a Marine as well. :D

Hi, does the system actually give you updates like that? Mine still says we are processing -- ?? (I also had to send in additional info - travel in a month -- getting anxious)

The updates do change. Just for giggles when I saw that my check was cashed I checked the status and it said that my application was received and it was pending.

Fast forward to a the week and a half point (unbeknownst to me, it had already been processed and mailed). I checked it again and it said:

"Thank you for submitting your application for a U.S. passport book!

Sounds like an accident looking for a place to happen. What is your legal name? What do your marriage license and social security card say? Are your earnings being properly credited to your FICA account? Sorry to get lightly off topic.

It's all good. :) Both my DL and SS card have my First Name, Maiden Name, Married Name. The federal gooberment changed the way those are done years ago. It's all part of the new enhanced driver's license law and to help prevent identity theft.

Got it! Thanks for all the info everyone.

Went ahead and put all the info in last night. Triple checked it.

One issue not mentioned anywhere is that your cruise documents MUST have your name exactly identical with your Passport name. Even a minor deviation could cause a problem.

 

Same thing for your airline tickets if you fly internationally.

 

True story. My wife's middle name is Anne. Her CA driver license spelled it right. Her passport truncated the e so it shows Ann. When we applied for the TSA Precheck she was denied because of that discrepancy which meant that we had to get her Passport reissued with the correct name.

 

Another matter. Make sure the name being used on your airline tickets is exactly the same as your Passport. For domestic travel it's not that big a deal if your driver license is accurate...but international travelers MUST be very careful.

I did read about this. Thanks for the reminder. I booked our first cruise earlier today and there's no place to put a middle name for my guests. Hmmm......

ETA: Found it. :)

Why would it be a problem?

 

Your passport is now your official form of identification. Accepted worldwide. Drivers license is only for your State.

Drivers license vs. passport have nothing to do with anything.

Never needed a passport for travel before. Just wanted to be sure it wouldn't be an issue. This is all new to me.......that's why I asked. :cool:

I just received my passport, but I have a question. On the application it asked for First, Middle, Last Name. I put that info down. However, my driver's license has my First Name, Maiden Name, Last Name. My license is like that because of the federal requirements that were put into place years back.

My question is since the passport and driver's license have a different middle name would this be an issue?

Don't touch the stuff. All that alcohol dries out your hands from the constant use. Soap and water do a better job.

Plus, I'm an adult. Don't need anyone encouraging me to do what I already do. :cool:

Just to pop in with an alternate view--solo cruising can be unbelievably relaxing, should you have a significant other whose favorite word is "no".

I'm thinking his "no" was mostly because of the costs involved. We're much better off now than we were then. ;)

this is awesome. We still need to get this done too. we leave for our cruise in about 100 days. good to know they are moving pretty fast to get them done.

I would send in yours ASAP.

Our daughter and I sent in our passport applications last Monday. Checked their status today and they are in the final stage of processing. Says we should receive them on or by next Wednesday. We opted for regular service. Can't believe they are almost done already.

WOO HOO! Let the planning begin. :D